Posted By Jennifer Kelly Help please! If a DSE user is not happy with their fully adjustable chair is the company within it's rights to ask the DSE user to provide a medical note (ie from a physio) before a new chair is provided even though the employee does have a medical complaint, they just don't find that chair comfortable? Regards Jennifer

Posted By Mark Bywater Jennifer, I would say that the chair is "work equipment" and as such should be the same as PPE, machinery etc. If it needs adjusting to be suitable and sufficient then the employer should alter / adjust / change it. What if your safety shoes were uncomfortable........would you want to wear them? I suggest not. Beware here of having this person resign and citing you (the employer) in a constructive dismissal claim. You should do all you can to accommodate all employees...remember DDA 1995 too! Regards, Mark

Posted By Kieran J Duignan Jennifer Be very careful about the implications of what you are doing. 1. The first point is a general one. If you are prepared to allow her, what qualifications does he/she have in ergonomics? As a registered ergonomics, I have been amazed and horrified about the judgments I have observed physiotherapists and occupational therapists make about DSE and other workplace ergonomic issues, on the grounds that they revealed mistakes and worse about ergonomic design. So, unless a physio has at least a diploma in ergonomics recognised by The Ergonomics Society, why accept his/her judgment any more than that of anyone else? 2. The second issue is an important procedural one. Is the physio going to inspect the chair? If so, are you going to allow him/her inspect the chairs of every other user or operator of DSE? 3. The third issue concerns your method of assessing and managing risks to DSE users and operators. If you have conducted a thorough risk assessment, you will have shown each user and operator how to evaluate and adjust their chair, withour relying on a physio or anyone else without a thorough professional understanding of ergonomics. If you haven't conducted a thorough risk assessment, theirin lies the root problem.

Posted By Salus Just do everything that a reasonable employer would do, ask them to try other chairs in the office,make sure they know how to adjust the chairs.And stick to your guns. This person obviously does not go to the cinema, get a cab,visits coffe bars or cafes or can sit in their car for to long. They will want the door handles changed next. And how many office workers wear safety shoes? Come on you safety people lets get rid of this type of worker once and for all

Posted By Pamela Marshall Just a thought - could it be that chair feels uncomfortable because the person isn't use to sitting in the correct position or in a chair that is the right dimensions etc. Most people slouch in their chairs and when you sit properly it feels uncomfortable at first. Maybe the chair is uncomfortable because the person can't sit comfortably in their normal (maybe incorrect) position. Good Luck Pamela

Posted By Ron Impey This area is very subjective and there may be a psychological element to the situation. It is important that it is not simply dismissed automatically. Adopting a flexible and caring approach, and showing a willingness to perhaps spend a little extra on a chair can pay dividends in the long term.

Posted By Jennifer Kelly As always thanks to everyone who has responded. As has been commented many times before this site is a great forum for getting a range of opinions and all of you have made valuable points which will, I hope, help me to formulate an adequate response to this issue.

Posted By Alison Melrose Jennifer Have sent you an e-mail direct (from a qualified ergonomist's point of view!) Alison